Press Release Article

PORT AUTHORITY READY FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Date: Sep 02, 2009Press Release Number: 111-2009

Traffic Volumes Down at Agency Airports

The Port Authority is prepared to handle the nearly 3 million travelers moving through its airports, bridges, tunnels, terminals and PATH rail system during the Labor Day weekend - the unofficial end of the summer season. Although activity levels at the Port Authority's facilities are expected to be busier than normal, the agency anticipates that overall passenger volumes at its airports will be lower than previous years due to the national recession.

Airports

From Friday, September 4, through Tuesday, September 8, about 1.5 million travelers are expected to pass through the agency’s airports.

This year, 714,000 passengers are anticipated at John F. Kennedy International Airport. To ensure arriving at the airport on time and to ease highway congestion, passengers are urged to take advantage of AirTrain JFK, which links to the New York City subway system and the Long Island Rail Road. For those who are driving, call 718 244-4080 or listen to the airport’s radio at 1630 AM for parking information and updates.

Newark Liberty International Airport is expecting 490,000 travelers. Using AirTrain Newark, which links the airport to NJ Transit and Amtrak rail service, is the best way to reach the airport this weekend. Drivers should tune to 530 AM or call 888 EWR-INFO and press 22 for timely parking information.

More than 300,000 travelers will fly to their holiday destinations through LaGuardia Airport. Those arriving by car should call 718 533-3850 for parking information.

Approximately 6,000 passengers will use Stewart International Airport, the Port Authority’s newest airport, as their means of travel. For parking information, travelers can call 845 567-0048.

For alerts on airport weather delays, parking lot capacity and AirTrain service advisories, passengers are invited to sign up for Airport Info-Alerts at www.panynj.info. The free subscription service sends notifications straight to users’ PDAs, cell phones, pagers or PCs.

Passengers are also urged to check the latest federal rules and regulations before arriving at the airports to ensure pleasant and hassle-free travel. Numerous travel resources can be found at www.tsa.gov and www.cbp.gov.

Tunnels, Bridges and Terminals

The Port Authority projects approximately 1.4 million vehicles will cross its four interstate bridges and two tunnels from September 4 through September 7.

To ease the way for the high volume of travelers, the Port Authority will suspend all roadway construction projects for the holiday weekend.

To relieve congestion and reduce carbon emissions, commuters are encouraged to use mass transit whenever possible. Travelers using the Port Authority Bus Terminal or the George Washington Bridge Bus Station should allow extra time and anticipate longer lines than usual. Call 800 221-9903 for more information.

To receive alerts on bridge and tunnel incidents and delays, passengers are encouraged to sign up for Bridge and Tunnel Alerts at www.panynj.info. Travelers receive notifications through this free subscription service on their cell phones, PDAs, pagers or e-mail accounts and can customize the information they receive.

Port Authority Trans-Hudson

PATH will provide additional service as necessary on Friday, September 4, to accommodate passengers leaving work early for the holiday weekend.

On Monday, September 7, PATH will operate on a holiday schedule. For more information, call 800 234-PATH. To receive electronic notifications of train delays of 15 minutes or more and PATH-line service changes, visit www.panynj.info and sign up for PATH alerts.

CONTACT: The Port Authority of New York and New JerseySteve Coleman, 212 435-7777The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operates many of the busiest and most important transportation links in the region. They include John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, Stewart International and Teterboro airports; AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark; the George Washington Bridge and Bus Station; the Lincoln and Holland tunnels; the three bridges between Staten Island and New Jersey; the PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) rapid-transit system; Port Newark; the Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal; the Howland Hook Marine Terminal on Staten Island; the Port Authority Auto Marine Terminal; the Brooklyn Piers/Red Hook Container Terminal; and the Port Authority Bus Terminal in midtown Manhattan. The agency also owns the 16-acre World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan and is a partner in the Access to the Region’s Core tunnel project.